Sprinkler head



J. R. HAMILTON SPRINKLER HEAD Dec. 22, 1931.

Filed Jan. 25, 1930 Env efzfo www@ KM @WMV yPatented Dec. 22, 1.931

UNITED STATES-"PATENT ortica JOHN` R. HAMILTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB. TO AUTOMATIC SPBINKLER COMPANY F AMERICA, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF.DELAWARE SPRINKLIJER HEAD Application mea January 29, 1939. serial Nn. 492,699.

This invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus, and more particularly to sprinkler heads of an improved form whlch may be used with the floor distributing pipes '5 of a fire extinguishing system, such as that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial'No'. 358,698, filed April 27, 1929.

An object of this invention is to provide al novel form of sprinkler head.

Another object of this invention is to provide a form of sprinkler head in which the extinguishing agent distributing meansl is housed within a casing. j

A further object of this invention is to provide a form of sprinkler head in which thel extinguishing agent distributing means is housed within al casing having movable means normally closing the casing and adapted to be moved by the flow of extinguishing agent. 1

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting incertain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top planview of a sprinkler head embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of another form of sprinkler head embodying my invention.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, I have shown a sprinkler head 10 supported by the floor of a structure such as an air craft hangar for discharging lire extinguishing agent in a substantially upward direcf tion. The sprinkler head isconstructed in the form of a casing 12, which is partially embedded in the material of the Hoor 12 so as to be in` an out-of-theway position and to bring the top surface of the casing substantially flush with the surface ofthe floor. This casing may be constructed in any suitable form but, as illustrated in the drawings, I prefer to make this casing of substantially cone-shape and arrange the same with its axis normal to the surface of the floor and with its apex extending downwardly into the material of the floor. vA boss 13 is formed at the apex of the casing and is provided with a threaded openingin which a pipe 14 is connected for supplying extinguishing Huid to the casing from a suitable source. A portion of the boss is extended upwardly int-o the casing to form the nozzle-shaped orifice 1'5 for directing a stream of extinguishing agent in a substantially upward direc'-` tion with the casing. e

It is desirable that the stream of extinguishing agent discharged from the nozzle 15 be directed in a general upwardly direction but at the same time, it i's also desirable that some o f the fluid bedistributed laterally as well as upwardly. Therefore, in order to give the stream of extinguishing agent the desired shape, I provide a deflecting or diffusing member 16 in the casing. This mem-` ber is constructed in the form of a dished plate having. a serratedy edge, and is supported upon, and suitably attached to, a tapered boss 17 located at a desired distance from the nozzle 15'. This boss is supported within the casing by means of the arms 18 which are arranged to form a spider. These arms may-be given a stream line cross-sectional'shape to reduce the resistance to the flow of extinguishing fluid and, if desired, may be cast integral with the casing. To reduce the resistance to the flow of fluid the .tapered boss 17 is arranged with its apex eX- tending downwardly into the path of the l stream discharged from the nozzle 15. The stream impinges against the deflecting member 16 and -is given a suitable shape, such as that indicated by the dash lines shown in Fig. 1. If desired holes 19 of any suitable shape may'be provided through the deflecting member so that some of the extinguishing uid may bedirected substantiall vertically upwardly above the element y passing through these holes.

In order that the presenta smooth surface over which odies moving along the floor may pass, I provide a cover 2O which normally closes the casing. In addition, the cover protects the distributing means from damage and also prevents dirt and other foreign matter from dropping This cover may be given a slightly rounded shape, as shown in the drawings, to provide additional strength for supportlng heavy loads to which it may be subjected. A hinge joint 21 y connects the cover to the casing and permits it to be swung by the How of the extinguishing fluid from the closed position, illustrated in full lines, to the open position indicated in dotted lines. To reinforce the cover and to insure prompt opening by the flow of extinguishing agent, ribs 22 may be formed upon the under surface of the cover. As illustrated in Fig. 2, these ribs'are arranged to provide additlonal surface against which the extinguishing fluid may impinge to cause the cover to be qulckly swung to the open position; l

In operation of the device an extinguishing agent is supplied to the nozzle 15 by the pipe 14 and is directed substantially upwardly by. the nozzle against the defiecting member 16 which gives the stream a suitable shape for efficient distribution of the iluid. The flow of' extinguishing agent causes the cover tobe swung to the open position so that the stream of extinguishing agent maybe directed upwardly and laterally from the casing.

In Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, I have shown another form of sprinkler head, constructed into the casing.

in the form of a .casing 25 partially embedded l 1n t-hel material ofthe floor 26. A boss 27 is formed at the lower end of the casing and is provided with a threaded opening therethrough which communicates with the interior of the' casing. A pipe 28 is connected to-the lower part of the threaded opening for supplying extinguishing fluid to the casing. A distri uting member 29 is removably mounted in, the casing in the upper end of the threaded opening of the boss. This distributingmember is constructed as a separate element and may be provided with a dished and serrated deiecting plate 30 which is supported by, and suitably connected to, a tapered boss 31. A pair of curved arms 32 connect the boss 31 `with a supporting base 33 which is screwed into the threaded openingv of the boss. A suitably shaped nozzlelike' orifice 34 is formed through the upper wall of the supporting base 33- for directing a stream of extinguishing fluid upwardly against the deilecting plate. The casing is normally closed by a hinged cover 35, which' is adapted to be swung to an open position 'sob by the flow of extinguishing fluid. It will be noted that the distributlng member, in this arrangement, isvmade separate from the casing in which it is housed s o that this memer may be removed and replaced, if desired, Without the necessity of dlsturbing the casing which may be securely and ermanently mounted in the material of the oor. If desired, provision may be made for directing some of the extinguishing agent substantialpathV of the stream,

ly directly up ardly above the distributing member by form-ing holes 36, of any suitable shape, through this member.

It will now be readily seen that I have provided a simple and eiiicient form of sprinkler head in which the distributing means ishoused and protected within a casing. A sprinkler head of this form may be mounted in a floor of an air craft hangar, or the like, and when thus installed, the cover of the casing presents a surface substantially flush with the surface of the ioor and protects the distributing means from damage and from the intrusion of dirt and other foreign matter.

It will also be seen that with the Huid defiecting means of my device supported and held in the casing, in spaced relation to the unobstructed discharge opening and in the the latter is broken up into gobs, or relatively large drops which have delinite directional movement. The substantially conically tapered part of the deflecting means causesa gradual divergence of the fluid of the stream, as indicated in the drawings, and the serrated or iuted part produces a dispersion of the fluid, or, in other words, breaks up the stream into gobs or relatively large drops.v The detlecting means thus cooperates with the unobstructed discharge opening, producing a dispersion of fluid in large drops having definite directional mov-ement. These large drops into which the stream is broken have appreciable mass and will travel for considerable distance without deviation fromv a definite direct'ion and therefore are effective as a lireighting means, as distinguished from tne spray or mist, produced'by a lawn sprinkling device, which has-no directional value and is ineffective as a fire-fighting means.

While I have shown and described the device of my invention in detailed manner, it

should be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the precise details and arrangements shown and described, but regard my invention as including such .changes and modifications as do not involve v a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scolpe of the appended claims.

Having t us described my invention, Wha-t I claim is:

1. A sprinkler head comprising a casing partially embedded in a floor, extlnguishing agentY distributing means in said casing, and a movable cover normally closing said casing andV adapted to be moved by the stream of extinguishing agent, said cover having means on its under surface for facilitating the opening thereof by said stream of extinguishing agent.

l2. A sprinkler head com rising a casing partially embedded in a flldor and having an unobstructed .discharge opening, extinguishing agent deflecting means supported V`-in said casing in spaced relation to said opening and in alignment with the axis thereof and a hinged cover normally closing casing and adapted to be swung to open po- 5 sition by the stream of extingulshing agent. 3. A sprinkler head comprising a easing,

an extinguishing agent defieoting member in said casing, unobstructed means for dischar 'ng extinguishing agent against said .10 mem er, means for supporting and retain-` ing said deflectlng member within'said easing and holding the same in s aced relation to said discharging means an in alignment with the axisVv thereof, and means normally 15 closing said casing and adapted to be moved,

by the stream of extinguishing agent.

4. A sprinkler head com rising a casing fluid distributing means 'sposed in said casing, and a cover normally closing said.

20 casing and adapted to be moved toan outof-the-way position by the impact of the Huid thereagainst. y

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my.

signature.

en JoHN n HAMmroN. 

